EVANSVILLE, Ind.—The University of Southern Indiana women's basketball team hosts the University of Indianapolis Thursday at 5:15 p.m. in its annual Play4Kay game before concluding its 2014-15 home schedule when it hosts Saint Joseph's College Saturday at 1 p.m. for Senior Day at the Physical Activities Center.
USI (20-5, 12-3 GLVC) is encouraging all fans to join the Screaming Eagles by wearing pink Thursday as they help raise awareness in the fight against breast cancer.
The Eagles will honor their seven seniors—forward/centers
Anna Hackert (Evansville, Indiana),
Cayla Herbst (Glen Ellyn, Illinois), and
Mary O'Keefe (Edwardsville, Illinois) as well as guards
Autumn Miller (Louisville, Kentucky),
Mariah Nimmo (Groveland, Illinois),
Libby Ogden (Tipton, Indiana), and
Taylor Stevenson (Olney, Illinois) following their game with Saint Joseph's Saturday.
USI's seniors have played in a combined 603 games, making 310 starts, and have accounted for 4,069 points and 2,298 rebounds in the last four years.
With a first-round bye in the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament wrapped up, the Eagles are turning their attention to strengthening their NCAA II Tournament resume. The Eagles, winners of six straight games, have reached the 20-win plateau for the ninth time in program history—the previous eight times USI has recorded 20 or more wins, the Eagles have advanced to the NCAA II Tournament.
USI, which is receiving votes in this week's USA Today Sports/WBCA Top 25 Coaches' Poll, will have an idea of where it lies in the regional picture prior to Thursday's game as the first installment of the NCAA II Midwest Region rankings are due out Wednesday afternoon.
The Eagles are looking for the season sweep of Indianapolis and Saint Joseph's. USI defeated Indianapolis, 67-57, last month in Indianapolis after posting a 67-53 victory over Saint Joseph's in Rensselaer, Indiana.
Hackert had 18 points and 10 rebounds to pace the Eagles against Saint Joseph's, while sophomore guard
Tanner Marcum (New Albany, Indiana) scored 22 points to lead the Eagles against Indianapolis.
Marcum, who had 26 points in USI's 82-66 win over Maryville University this past Saturday, is second on the team with 11.0 points per game. Hackert, who had 17 points and 12 rebounds against Maryville, leads USI with 15.5 points and 11.2 rebounds per outing.
Indianapolis (10-13, 7-8 GLVC), which has lost five of the last six games, comes to the PAC following a 63-52 setback to Truman State University Saturday. Junior guard Princess German, who had 25 points against USI in the first meeting, leads the Greyhounds with 18.1 points per game, including 21.1 points per contest in GLVC play.
Saint Joseph's (11-14, 7-8 GLVC), which has won seven of the last 10 games, begins the week following a 64-57 victory over Quincy University Saturday. Sophomore forward Kalea Parks, who had 18 points and eight rebounds against USI in the first meeting, is averaging 17.4 points and 6.6 rebounds per outing to lead the Pumas, who visit Bellarmine University Thursday.
Both games this week can be listened to on WPSR 90.7 FM, while live stats, audio, and video can be accessed at gousieagles.com.
